A new Italian eatery, Vento Trattoria, opens at the former Coffee Station in Bay Village this month with a few well-known names behind it. Conceptualized by owner Di DeRubba, the restaurant is backed by Tartine’sJohn McDonnell and chef Nolan Konkoski, as well as actress Patricia Heaton. Konkoski will serve as executive chef. “It’s the perfect scenario for us,” DeRubba says. Similar to Tartine, Vento will not have a range. “There’s no open flame, just the oven,” says DeRubba. “It makes for a challenging menu, but it’s healthier.” The menu will feature soups, pizza, paninis, pastas and seafood, with flavors drawn primarily from DeRubba’s Southern Italian heritage.

Cleveland’s Best Chef

Chef Michael Symon took home the coveted James Beard Foundation Award in the Best Chef Great Lakes Category for the first time in May. “It’s the biggest award I could have ever received,” he says. “But at the end of the day, it’s really good for the city.”

Speaking of Michael ...The first of Symon’s two upcoming suburban restaurants will open late this month —Bar Symon, an American brasserie at the former Swingos Grand Tavern in Avon Lake. “We are going to focus on our own twists on American comfort food, themed around American and Western classics,” says Symon. Entrées will range from $8 to $18, with the majority falling between $12 to $15. The beer menu, with 40 on tap, will focus largely on American artesian brews.

Crossing the CuyahogaLakewood-based Melt Bar and Grilled will open its first East Side location this fall at Cedar and South Taylor roads in Cleveland Heights. Construction on the eatery starts this month, says owner Matt Fish. The décor, menu and beer list will be the same as its West Side counterpart.